Main Dish

(adapted from Cook's Country)
Serves 6-8/Makes 13x18 sheet pan pie

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 3/4 cup hot water (110f)
1Tbsp sugar
4.5 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
2 envelopes or 4 1/2 tsp instant or rapid-rise yeast
2 tsp salt

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 200 degrees. When oven reaches 200 degrees, turn off oven. Grease large bowl. Evenly coat 18- by 13-inch rimmed baking sheet with 1/4 cup oil.

This "recipe" is infinitely variable, and has no rules. Experiment!

--Approximately 3 cups of cooked rice or other grain, or potatoes

--1 large onion and
--Several cloves of garlic, optional
--1 large bunch broccoli, or kale, or greens of your choice, chopped
--A couple smaller veggies (turnips, carrots, etc.), chopped small, optional
--salt and pepper
--herbs and spices (~2 tsp. basil and ~.5 tsp. oregano is nice)
--sprinkling of red pepper flakes

Adapted from "A Year in a Vegetarian Kitchen," a fantastic cookbook by Jack Bishop.

2 tbsp. olive oil
1 cinnamon stick, about 4 inches long
1 bay leaf
10 whole black peppercorns
1/2 tsp. coriander seeds

1 medium onion, minced

3 medium garlic cloevs, minced
1 tbsp. minced ginger root
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground turmeric

1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes (or equivalent fresh or frozen)

This soup is infinitely variable and adjustable. In fact, the only rule is that you can only make it the same way once.

1/4 cup olive oil
1 large onion
1/2 head green cabbage, cut up small
3 celery stalks or a celeriac
3 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper
Red pepper flakes

1 potato
2 carrots

28-oz can tomatoes, plus some tomato paste or dried tomatoes
2-4 cups cooked beans
1/4 cup dried basil
2 tbsp. dried oregano
pinch of fennel
2 bay leaves

1 pound small shell or spiral pasta
(or use rice pasta)
1/4-3/4 cup olive oil

4-8 oz. feta cheese

1 can black olives

2 medium diced tomatoes, OR 1 pint cherry tomatoes, OR 2 diced red peppers

1/2 small red onion, sliced thinly

3 small cucumbers, diced

1 1/2 tbsp oregano

Salt and Pepper to taste

Cook pasta until just before it's al dente; drain well. Coat pasta gently with olive oil, then add remaining ingredients except for the feta, and mix gently but thoroughly. Mix in the feta.

Makes about 9 cups

Another total favorite from "Laurel's Kitchen," by Laurel Robertson et al.

1 1/2 cup black beans
6 cups water

1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp. oil
2 cloves garlic
2 celery stalks
1 potato
1 carrot
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. savory
2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper

1 lemon, juiced

Wash the beans and put them in a saucepan along with the water. Cover loosely, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2 1/2 hours or so, until the beans are quite tender.

Makes about 8 cups, to serve 6

From "Laurel's Kitchen"

A thinner, more flavorful version of lentil soup than the usual stewy kind.

2 cups lentils (green, red, or French lentils)

8 cups water

half an onion, chopped

1 carrot, diced

1 potato, diced

1 celery stalk, diced

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 bay leaves

1 1/2-2 tsp salt

2 tsp. red wine vinegar

Pick over lentils and wash.

So good, from "Laurel's Kitchen," by Laurel Robertson et al.

1 onion, diced
2 tbsp. oil
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. celery seed

1 cup green split peas
1/2 cup barley or rice
2 quarts water

2 tsp. salt
dash pepper
1 small carrot, chopped
3 stalks celery, diced
1/2 cup chopped parsley
1 small potato, diced
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. thyme

Makes 4 to 6 generous servings

Adapted from The Best Vegetarian Recipes by Martha Rose Shulman

"From France to Italy to Lebanon to India to Mexico, lentils are appreciated for their distinctive earthy flavor. Any lentil soup can be a main dish. This one, with pasta or rice added at the end and Parmesan sprinkled over each serving, is another Italian minestrone, or "big soup." The pasta and rice absorb much of the liquid, so the soup is thick (you can add more water if you want a brothier soup). Use just enough cayenne to add a little bite.
"

1 cup pink lentils

3 cups water

1/2-1 teaspoon turmeric powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2-1 teaspoon garam masala powder
(if you need a recipe, check here http://www.lifeisapalindrome.com/recipes/garam-masala-spice-blend )

Baghar:

1 tablespoon oil or ghee

1/2-1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon coriander powder